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This lengthy post will focus on Portugal’s Algarve region. The Algarve is the south of Portugal, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Europe. The Algarve is more then just a sunny section of Portugal, where tourists go to warm up during the colder months. It is a unique region of Portugal, with a very interesting history. It continues today to be an important section of Portugal’s landscape, and although its touristic qualities have put it on the map for vacationers, its history is not to be overlooked.

History of the Algarve

Because of its position on the map, the Algarve has been fought over by the Phoenicians, as well as the Moors and the Romans. There have been inhabitants in the Algarve for thousands of years, but the first developed society was most likely the Phoenicians, somewhere around 1,100 BC. Following the Phoenicians, the whole area of the Algarve was populated by an influx of Celts.

In 235 BC, The Romans, who had a base in Cadiz, decided to occupy the Algarve, but were removed by the Visigoths. This took place around 410 AD. The Visigoths would remain in control of the Algarve until 711, when the Moors from North Africa took control of the entire southern Iberian Peninsula.

The Moors would stay in control of the Algarve until 1185, when Sancho I scored some victory in battle, however the Moors later regained control. Eventually, Sancho II, along with a Christian army and crusaders took possession in 1236. However, the Algarve was not referred to as belonging to the kingdom until Alfonso III took the title of King of Portugal and all Algarve. The last stronghold for the Moors was in Faro, which was finally taken by Portugal in 1272.

After the battle with the Moors, it was not exactly over. The King of Castile refused to accept Alfonso III’s claiming of the Algarve, and it was only at the treaty of Badajoz that there was some dialogue. Most importantly for Portugal and the Algarve would come a treaty in 1297, when Spain and Portugal settled on a boarder.

The residents of the Algarve remained for around 300 years without any changes in their rule, but, they were subject to many raids by pirates. In 1580 the throne of Portugal became vacant, and King Felipe II of Spain crowned himself the King of Portugal. With this the Algarve again became under attack.

By 1640, the Portuguese reclaimed the Kingdom, with Joao IV sitting on the throne.

In 1807 France and Spain plotted to cut the Kingdom into pieces, with the two countries claiming sections. The Algarve was to be a separate Kingdom, with Manuel Godoy, the Prime Minister of Carlos IV, in control. This whole conquest was the brain child of Napoleon, who’s defeat was seen when Portugal’s wars were backed by England. Historically, England and Portugal have always held strong relations.

The Landscape of the Algarve

There are nearly 420,000 permanent inhabitants in the Algarve. The Algarve is relatively small, with a total area of 5,411 square kilometers. However, the summer brings a wave of tourists and visitors, raising the population of the Algarve up to nearly one million people.

The south coast of the Algarve runs around 155 kilometers. Along the Atlantic Ocean, there is nearly one hundred beautiful beaches stretching along the Algarve. The water temperature at some of the Algarve beaches can be extremely warm due to the sea currents, even during the colder winter months. At the southern tip of Europe, it has been said that the Algarve is one of Europe’s most unpolluted areas.

There is great variety in the interior of the Algarve region. The Algarve is known for its Roman terraces and granite walls, with a few ancient monuments surviving the many destructive earthquakes throughout history.

The Algarve Today

This wave of tourists to the Algarve has recently seen the are become more and more developed. The beautiful beaches and wonderful climate have made the Algarve a perfect holiday destination. Golf is a popular activity for tourists and vacationing residents to the Algarve. Many new properties have been developed, with communities being built around them.

Most recently the Algarve has been seen in the media focus on a missing British girl who went missing while on vacation with her parents. Madeleine McCann, the missing child, brought the international press focusing on the Algarve during the initial investigation.

Getting to the Algarve is more accessible then ever, with many flights arriving in the Faro Airport. For visitors to Lisbon, a train, and many busses make it no problem to head south. There is plenty of hotels to choose from, and many cities and villages to discover and explore.

The Algarve is an area inside Portugal steeped in beauty and history. It has quickly become the spotlight for a new wave of tourists. The beauty of the region, combined with the weather makes it an ideal place to relax, and it remains to be seen how much this push will have on the region. The Algarve has already seen many changes, and not necessarily for the good, and hopefully in the future, some of the Algarve’s unspoiled beauty will remain intact. One has only to look at the history of the Algarve to realize that the region will sustain over time.